Radiation free bone density testing in Edmonton using EchoLight REMS ultrasound technology. Two clinic locations, no referral required, and results the same day.
Advanced Bone Health Services runs bone density clinics in Edmonton using Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry, known as REMS. The scan measures bone mineral density using ultrasound rather than X-ray, so there is no ionising radiation at any point in the appointment.
Two Edmonton locations, Oliver and the southwest
Edmonton is one of the few cities where we hold clinics at two separate sites, so you can choose whichever side of the city is easier to reach.
| Location | Address | Area |
|---|---|---|
| UC Baby Edmonton | 11523 100 Avenue NW, Suite 204 | Oliver, west of downtown |
| Arnica Wellness | 236 91 Street SW | Southwest Edmonton |
Advanced Bone Health Services operates as a mobile clinic on a rotating national schedule rather than a permanent walk in facility. Edmonton dates are announced in advance and appointment slots at each site are limited. Your confirmation email confirms which of the two locations your appointment is at, along with the suite number, entrance and parking details.
Check the next available Edmonton clinic dates and book your appointment
Monitoring between publicly funded scans
Bone mineral density testing is publicly funded in Alberta, and for many Edmontonians that route works well. Under Alberta’s Schedule of Medical Benefits, health service code X128, most patients are funded for one bone mineral density scan every two years. Patients assessed as high risk may be scanned more frequently when referred by a specialist.
Two years is a long gap if your situation has changed. If you have recently started or adjusted osteoporosis treatment, if you have a condition that raises your fracture risk, or if you have simply had a fall and want to know where you stand, waiting for the next funded scan is not always comfortable.
Because REMS uses ultrasound and not X-ray, there is no radiation dose to accumulate, so repeat scanning is not limited in the same way. That makes it a practical way to check in between funded scans, and it is one of the most common reasons Edmonton patients book with us.
“The REMS Technology gave me a chance to find it, and now it gives me a chance to monitor my osteopenia at regular intervals.”
Sandra, Edmonton, AB
We are not a replacement for your physician or for the public system. We encourage every patient to share their report with their own doctor.
What the scan involves
The appointment itself is short and completely straightforward.
- Plan for 20 to 30 minutes at the clinic
- The lumbar spine measurement takes around 80 seconds and the femur around 40 seconds
- You remain fully clothed throughout
- No injection, no contrast agent, no enclosed scanner
- No radiation exposure
- Your report is emailed to you the same day
The report gives you a T score, the standard measure used to identify normal bone density, osteopenia and osteoporosis, alongside a Fragility Score reflecting the internal structure and quality of the bone rather than density alone. It is formatted so you can pass it straight to your family physician, rheumatologist or endocrinologist.
How REMS compares with a DEXA scan
| Feature | REMS ultrasound scan | Conventional DEXA scan |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Ultrasound, radiofrequency signal analysis | Dual energy X-ray |
| Radiation exposure | None | Low dose ionising radiation |
| Referral required | Not in most cases | Yes, a requisition is needed |
| Scanning interval | Not limited by radiation dose | Publicly funded once every two years in Alberta for most patients |
| Results | Same day, emailed to you | Reported to the referring physician |
| Output | T score and Fragility Score | T score and Z score |
DEXA remains the long established reference standard for diagnosing osteoporosis. REMS is intended as an accessible, radiation free way to understand and monitor your bone health.
Who should consider a bone density scan
Bone loss develops without symptoms, and for many people a fracture is the first sign anything is wrong. A scan is worth considering if any of these apply to you.
- Women who are postmenopausal or approaching menopause
- Adults aged 50 and over
- Anyone who has broken a bone from a minor fall
- A family history of osteoporosis or hip fracture
- Long term corticosteroid use, for example prednisone
- Thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease or kidney conditions
- Low body weight, or a history of smoking or high alcohol intake
- Physically demanding work over many years
- An existing diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis where you want to track changes between funded scans
What a private bone density scan costs in Edmonton
A single REMS scan at our Edmonton clinics is $175. If two scans are booked together, for example one for yourself and one for a partner or a parent, each scan is $150. The price is the same at both locations.
That covers the appointment itself, the scan of your hip and lumbar spine, your fragility score, and the written report, which is emailed to you the same day. Current offers are listed on our promotions page.
What Alberta covers, and what it does not
A publicly funded bone density test in Alberta costs you nothing, and for many people that is the right route. Two conditions decide whether you qualify.
The first is age. Under the provincial health service code for bone mineral density testing, the test may only be claimed for patients 50 years of age or older, unless the referral comes from a qualifying specialist such as endocrinology, rheumatology, orthopedics, internal medicine or nephrology. If you are under 50 and your family doctor orders the test, it is not covered.
The second is frequency. The same code may only be claimed once every two years from the date of your last scan. More frequent testing is allowed only where a specific clinical reason is recorded on the requisition, such as monitoring during a bisphosphonate holiday, a fracture that happened while on treatment, a transplant, hyperparathyroidism, or prednisone taken for longer than twelve months.
A requisition from a physician is needed either way.
Together those rules leave several groups without a funded option:
- You are under 50 and want a baseline reading now, and your family doctor is the one ordering it
- You are over 50, your last funded scan was less than two years ago, and something has changed since
- You have started treatment and want to know whether it is working before the two years are up, without one of the listed clinical reasons
- You do not currently have a family doctor to write the requisition
Waiting times for the funded test also vary by region, and in some areas an appointment can take a long time to come through.
Bone density test in Edmonton without a referral
If you are looking for a bone density test in Edmonton without a referral, this is what we offer. A DEXA scan through the public system needs a requisition from a physician first. Our REMS scan does not. You book the appointment with us directly, as a private patient, and your report is emailed to you the same day.
The scanner we use
Our clinics use the EchoS system, which measures bone density with sound waves rather than X-rays. The device was cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration through its 510(k) route in 2018, and it is licensed by Health Canada as a Class II medical device under licence number 107617.
Your report sets out your bone density readings for the hip and lumbar spine along with a fragility score, in a form your physician can review. Treatment decisions stay with them.
Frequently asked questions about bone density scans in Edmonton
Do I need a referral for a bone density scan in Edmonton?
No referral is required in most cases for a REMS scan with Advanced Bone Health Services. A publicly funded DEXA scan in Alberta does require a requisition from your physician. If you are unsure which route suits your circumstances, contact us before booking and we will help you work it out.
Which Edmonton location should I book?
Choose whichever is more convenient. UC Baby Edmonton is at 11523 100 Avenue NW, Suite 204, in Oliver just west of downtown. Arnica Wellness is at 236 91 Street SW in southwest Edmonton. Clinic dates are scheduled separately at each site, so availability may differ between the two.
Is a bone scan the same as a bone density scan?
No. A nuclear medicine bone scan involves an injected radioactive tracer and takes around three hours, and is used to investigate infection, injury or disease in the bone. A bone density scan measures bone mineral density to assess osteoporosis risk and takes 20 to 30 minutes. If osteoporosis is your concern, a bone density scan is the test you are looking for.
How often can I have a bone density scan in Alberta?
Under Alberta’s Schedule of Medical Benefits, health service code X128, most patients are publicly funded for one bone mineral density scan every two years, with more frequent scanning available to high risk patients on specialist referral. REMS involves no radiation, so it is not limited by dose accumulation and can be used for monitoring in between, where your physician considers that appropriate.
Is a REMS bone scan safe?
The scan uses ultrasound and involves no ionising radiation. There is no dose to accumulate, which is what makes it suitable for repeat monitoring.
When will I get my results?
Your report is emailed to you the same day, rather than being sent only to a referring physician.
How often does the Edmonton clinic run?
Advanced Bone Health Services operates a rotating national schedule and returns to Edmonton periodically. Dates are announced in advance and slots are limited at both locations, so early booking is recommended.
Do you scan anywhere else in Alberta?
Yes. We also hold clinics in Calgary and in Red Deer. All Alberta dates are listed on our locations page.
How much does a bone density scan cost in Edmonton?
A single REMS scan is $175, or $150 per scan when two are booked together. The price is the same at both our Edmonton locations, and it includes the appointment, the scan, your fragility score and the written report the same day.
I am under 50. Can I get a funded bone density scan in Alberta?
Usually not through your family doctor. The provincial code limits the claim to patients 50 years of age or older, unless the referral comes from a qualifying specialist such as endocrinology, rheumatology or orthopedics. There is no age restriction on booking with us, which is why people who want an earlier reading often book privately.
Is there a private bone density scan available in Edmonton?
Yes, at both our Edmonton locations. Our clinic is a private service, separate from the publicly funded route. That means no requisition, no waiting list, and your results the same day rather than sent back through a referring physician.
How much does a DEXA scan cost in Alberta if I pay for it myself?
Prices vary between private providers. Our scan is $175 for a single appointment. REMS is a different method from DEXA, using sound waves rather than X-rays, and it does not need a requisition from a physician.
Book your Edmonton bone density scan
Appointments at each Edmonton clinic date are limited and usually fill quickly.
Book your bone density scan in Edmonton
You may also want to read about how REMS technology works, what osteoporosis is, or who needs a bone mineral density test. You can also view all our clinic locations across Canada.